This is Part 2 of a series that I’m writing this week to help you be a better speaker.
Donald Trump is delivering the State of the Union as I type this. You may not have voted for him. You might not like him. You might wonder why his tie is always so long, but when it comes to public speaking, there is something that he does that you could adopt immediately to become a better presenter.
It comes down to one command.
Move deliberately.
He moves when he speaks and it’s completely deliberate.
President Obama also did this. And you’ll see it as a trait that is pretty much standard for the most effective communicators that you know.
Now, hear me closely on this. Most speakers move. You’ve seen it. But there are only a handful that you have seen that move deliberately.
Let me explain. Some people move as a default and as a nervous habit. For instance:
- They sway back and forth and you get sea sick watching.
- They fiddle with their wardrobe, their fingernails, or their notes.
- They touch their face or fold their arms repeatedly.
These are movements, but they make the audience want to look away instead of pay attention.
However, I’m sure you’ve also seen people so stiff that birds actually begin to land on them when they’re speaking. And like the birds that land, you want to fly away from their presentations.
The key is deliberate movements. If you’re going to move, be mindful about it.
I have to speak every other weekend in front of four cameras and an audience that varies between 600 and 800. When the system was first installed, I became aware of how my movements were distracting and automatic. I had to think about each movement I made with regards to the camera director.
It taught me to be deliberate.
So here’s some starting points.
1. Think of where you’re going not just of moving. When I move, I pretend there is an imaginary “X” on the floor where I am moving to. This way I’m not moving without a plan.
2. Make your hand motions consistent with what you’re saying. I talk with my hands a great deal. It’s a great way to engage people. However, make sure that you are using your hands to illustrate and not distract. For instance, if you are talking about something that is HIGH ABOVE YOU, don’t make your hand motions low.
3. Watch yourself and notice what things you do “automatically.” We all have our default movements. We have to distill those out and try to make the movement we have purposeful. It’s going to feel a little like you are writing with the opposite hand that you are used to, but know that the payoff is more confident communication.
We pay attention to deliberate communicators. You don’t have to be the president to communicate with purpose. Don’t let the importance of what you have to say be overshadowed by messy movements.